- Volume 63, Issue Pt_6, 2013

A marine prosthecate bacterium, designated strain P-1 km-3T, was isolated from deep seawater from the Pacific. Cells of strain P-1 km-3T were Gram-stain-negative, aerobic, catalase- and oxidase-positive, dimorphic rods with a single polar prostheca or flagellum. The strain hydrolysed gelatin and grew at 6–40 °C (optimum, 30 °C) and with 0.5–12 % (w/v) NaCl (optimum, 2 %). Phylogenetic analysis of the 16S rRNA gene sequences revealed that strain P-1 km-3T belonged to the family Hyphomonadaceae in the class Alphaproteobacteria and represented a separate lineage, located between the genera Oceanicaulis and Woodsholea . Sequence similarities of strain P-1 km-3T with type strains of species of the genera Oceanicaulis and Woodsholea were 93.2–93.9 %. The predominant cellular fatty acids in strain P-1 km-3T were C18 : 1ω7c, C18 : 0, 11-methyl C18 : 1ω7c, C17 : 0 and C19 : 0 cyclo ω8c. The major respiratory quinone of strain P-1 km-3T was Q-10. The polar lipids of strain P-1 km-3T comprised glucuronopyranosyldiglyceride (GUDG), monoglycosyldiglyceride (MGDG), sulfo-quinovosyl diacylglycerol (SQDG), phosphatidylglycerol (PG), an unidentified phospholipid (PL) and an unidentified lipid (L). The genomic DNA G+C content of strain P-1 km-3T was 66.0 mol%. On the basis of the polyphasic data presented in this study, strain P-1 km-3T is proposed to represent a novel species in a new genus, Marinicauda pacifica gen. nov., sp. nov., within the family Hyphomonadaceae . The type strain of the type species is P-1 km-3T ( = KACC 16526T = CGMCC 1.11031T).

A Gram-negative, facultatively anaerobic, rod-shaped (2.04–1.27×0.95–1.25 µm) and motile marine bacterium, designated MEBiC06500T was isolated from sediment collected at Daebu Island in the Yellow Sea (37° 20′ N 126° 41′ E), Korea. 16S rRNA gene sequence analysis revealed that strain MEBiC06500T showed high similarity with Paramoritella alkaliphila A3F-7T (96.5 %). Growth was observed at 10.5–30.2 °C (optimum 23.5 °C), at pH 6.0–9.5 (optimum 8.0) and with 0–5 % (optimum 1.5 %) NaCl. The predominant cellular fatty acids were C14 : 0, C16 : 0, C18 : 1ω7c and summed feature 3 (iso-C15 : 0 2-OH and/or C16 : 1ω7c). The DNA G+C content was 56.0 mol%. The respiratory quinone is Q-8. Phosphatidylethanolamine, phosphatidylglycerol, diphosphatidylglycerol, four unidentified lipids, one unidentified phospholipid and three unidentified aminolipids were detected as major polar lipids. On the basis of this polyphasic taxonomic data, strain MEBiC06500T should be classified as a representative of a novel species in the genus Paramoritella , and the proposed name is Paramoritella sediminis sp. nov. The type strain is MEBiC06500T ( = KCCM 42977T = JCM 18292T). Emended descriptions of the genus Paramoritella Hosoya et al. 2009 and Paramoritella alkaliphila are also given.

A Gram-negative, facultatively anaerobic bacillus, designated strain 266T, was isolated from an irrigation water system in the south-west of Western Australia. Analysis of the 16S rRNA gene sequence confirmed that strain 266T belonged to the genus Aeromonas , with the nearest species being Aeromonas fluvialis (99.6 % similarity to the type strain, with 6 nucleotide differences) followed by Aeromonas veronii and Aeromonas allosaccharophila (both 99.5 %). Analysis of gyrB and rpoD sequences suggested that strain 266T formed a phylogenetic line independent of other species in the genus. This was confirmed using the concatenated sequences of six housekeeping genes (gyrB, rpoD, recA, dnaJ, gyrA and dnaX) that also indicated that A. veronii and A. allosaccharophila were the nearest relatives. DNA–DNA reassociation experiments and phenotypic analysis further supported the conclusion that strain 266T represents a novel species, for which the name Aeromonas australiensis sp. nov. is proposed, with type strain 266T ( = CECT 8023T  = LMG 2670T).

A Gram-negative, aerobic, short rod-shaped bacterium, designated strain YC6898T, was isolated from the surface-sterilized root of a halophyte (Suaeda maritima) inhabiting tidal flat of Namhae Island, Korea. Strain YC6898T grew optimally at 30–37 °C and pH 6.5–7.5. The strain inhibited mycelial growth of Pythium ultimum and Phytophthora capsici. Phylogenetic analyses based on 16S rRNA gene sequences indicated that strain YC6898T belongs to the genus Hoeflea in the family Phyllobacteriaceae . Its closest relatives were Hoeflea alexandrii AM1V30T (96.7 % 16S rRNA gene sequence similarity), Hoeflea anabaenae WH2KT (95.7 %), Hoeflea phototrophica DFL-43T (95.5 %) and Hoeflea marina LMG 128T (94.8 %). Strain YC6898T contained Q-10 as the major ubiquinone. The major fatty acids of strain YC6898T were C18 : 1ω7c (61.1 %), C16 : 0 (11.9 %), 11-methyl C18 : 1ω7c (9.6 %) and C19 : 0 cyclo ω8c (8.0 %). The polar lipids were phosphatidylcholine, phosphatidylethanolamine, phosphatidylmonomethylethanolamine, phosphatidylglycerol, unknown lipids and an unknown glycolipid. The total genomic DNA G+C content was 53.7 mol%. On the basis of phenotypic, chemotaxonomic and phylogenetic analysis, strain YC6898T represents a novel species of the genus Hoeflea , for which the name Hoeflea suaedae sp. nov. is proposed. The type strain is YC6898T ( = KACC 14911T = NBRC 107700T).

An aerobic methanotrophic bacterium was isolated from an acidic (pH 3.9) Sphagnum peat bog in north-eastern Russia and designated strain MG30T. Cells of this strain were Gram-negative, pale pink-pigmented, non-motile, thick rods that were covered by large polysaccharide capsules and contained an intracytoplasmic membrane system typical of type I methanotrophs. They possessed a particulate methane monooxygenase enzyme (pMMO) and utilized only methane and methanol. Carbon was assimilated via the ribulose-monophosphate pathway; nitrogen was fixed via an oxygen-sensitive nitrogenase. Strain MG30T was able to grow at a pH range of 3.8–7.3 (optimum pH 5.8–6.4) and at temperatures between 8 and 30 °C (optimum 20–25 °C). The major cellular fatty acids were C16 : 1ω5t, C16 : 1ω8c, C16 : 1ω7c and C14 : 0; the DNA G+C content was 48.5 mol%. The isolate belongs to the family Methylococcaceae of the class Gammaproteobacteria and displayed 94.7–96.9 % 16S rRNA gene sequence similarity to members of the genus Methylomonas . However, strain MG30T differed from all taxonomically characterized members of this genus by the absence of motility, the ability to grow in acidic conditions and low DNA G+C content. Therefore, we propose to classify this strain as representing a novel, acid-tolerant species of the genus Methylomonas , Methylomonas paludis sp. nov. Strain MG30T ( = DSM 24973T = VKM B-2745T) is the type strain.

The bacterial strain C3T was isolated from permafrost soil in Beijicun, Mohe County, Heilongjiang province, China. Cells of strain C3T were Gram-stain-negative rods, 0.3–0.4 µm in diameter and 1.0–2.6 µm in length. Strain C3T was strictly aerobic. Growth occurred at 15–37 °C but not at 4 or 42 °C, at pH 5.0–9.0 (optimum pH 6.0–7.0) and in the presence of 0–8 g NaCl l−1 (optimum 0–1 g l−1). The analysis of 16S rRNA gene sequences indicated that strain C3T was phylogenetically related to members of the genus Undibacterium , with similarities ranging from 94.7 to 96.5 %. Strain C3T contained ubiquinone 8 as the major respiratory quinone. The major cellular fatty acids were summed feature 3 (C16 : 1ω7c/C16 : 1ω6c), C17 : 0 cyclo, straight-chain C16 : 0, C12 : 0 and C10 : 0, unsaturated C18 : 1ω7c and hydroxylated fatty acids C10 : 0 3-OH and C12 : 0 2-OH. The polar lipids were mainly phosphatidylethanolamine, diphosphatidylglycerol and phosphatidylglycerol. The polyamines were putrescine and 2-hydroxyputrescine. The DNA G+C content was 57.4 mol% (determined from Tm ). Based on these results, it is concluded that strain C3T represents a novel species of the genus Undibacterium , for which the name Undibacterium terreum sp. nov. is proposed, with C3T ( = CGMCC 1.10998T = NBRC 108789T) representing the type strain.

Seven Gram-negative bacterial strains were isolated from oozing bark canker of poplar (Populus×euramericana) trees in Hungary. They showed high (>98.3 %) 16S rRNA gene sequence similarity to Lonsdalea quercina ; however, they differed from this species in several phenotypic characteristics. Multilocus sequence analysis based on three housekeeping genes (gyrB, atpD and infB) revealed, and DNA–DNA hybridization analysis confirmed, that this group of bacterial strains forms a distinct lineage within the species Lonsdalea quercina . A detailed study of phenotypic and physiological characteristics confirmed the separation of isolates from poplars from other subspecies of L. quercina ; therefore, a novel subspecies, Lonsdalea quercina subsp. populi, type strain NY060T ( = DSM 25466T = NCAIM B 02483T), is proposed.

An aerobic, Gram-stain-negative, motile, mesophilic bacterium, designated strain 7515T-07T, was isolated from an air sample in the Taean region, Republic of Korea. The strain grew at 4–40 °C (optimum, 30 °C) and pH 5.0–9.0 (optimum, pH 7.0). Phylogenetic analysis based on 16S rRNA gene sequences showed that strain 7515T-07T was related to members of the genus Roseomonas and had highest 16S rRNA gene sequence similarity with Roseomonas ludipueritiae 170/96T (96.7 %). 16S RNA gene sequence similarity between strain 7515T-07T and Roseomonas gilardii ATCC 49956T (the type species of the genus Roseomonas ) was 93.4 %. Strain 7515T-07T contained Q-10 as the ubiquinone and C18 : 1ω7c and C19 : 0 cyclo ω8c as the dominant fatty acids (>10 %). The polar lipid profile contained diphosphatidylglycerol, phosphatidylglycerol, phosphatidylethanolamine, phosphatidylcholine and two unidentified aminolipids. The DNA G+C content was 73.0 mol%. Combined data from phenotypic, phylogenetic and chemotaxonomic studies demonstrated that strain 7515T-07T is a representative of a novel species of the genus Roseomonas , for which the name Roseomonas aerophila sp. nov. is proposed. The type strain is 7515T-07T ( = KACC 16529T = NBRC 108923T).

Strain JC141T was isolated from an alkaline soil (pH 8.8) at Mau, Uttar Pradesh, India. Colonies were blue with a metallic sheen; cells stained Gram-negative, and were oxidase- and catalase-positive, but chitinase-negative. Major fatty acids were C16 : 1ω7c/C16 : 1ω6c, C16 : 0 and C18 : 0 with minor amounts of C10 : 0, C10 : 0 3-OH, C12 : 0, C14 : 0 and C18 : 1ω7c. Strain JC141T contained phosphatidylethanolamine and phosphatidylglycerol as major polar lipids, with minor amounts of diphosphatidylglycerol, unidentified aminolipids (AL1–3) and unidentified lipids (L1–4). A bacterial hopane derivative (BHD1) was the major hopanoid. Genomic DNA G+C content was 62.5 mol%. 16S rRNA gene sequence comparisons indicated that strain JC141T represents a member of the genus Vogesella within the family Neisseriaceae of the class Betaproteobacteria . Strain JC141T had a 16S rRNA gene sequence similarity of 98 % with Vogesella indigofera ATCC 19706T and <96.5 % with other members of the genus Vogesella . However, strain JC141T showed 45.8 % relatedness (based on DNA–DNA hybridization) with V. indigofera LMG 6867T ( = ATCC 19706T). Distinct morphological, physiological and genotypic differences from previously described taxa support the classification of strain JC141T as a representative of a novel species in the genus Vogesella , for which the name Vogesella alkaliphila sp. nov. is proposed. The type strain is JC141T ( = KCTC 32041T = LMG 27066T). An emended description of the genus Vogesella is also proposed.

A bacterial strain, A2-57T, recovered from a water sample collected in a uranium mine was taxonomically studied in detail. This strain was a Gram-reaction-negative, rod-shaped bacterium that grew optimally at 25 °C and at pH 6.0–7.0 and had a DNA G+C content of 55.0 mol%. Ubiquinone 8 (UQ-8) was the predominant respiratory quinone and the major fatty acids were C16 : 0, C17 : 0 cyclo, summed feature 3 (C16 : 1ω6c and/or ω7c and/or C15 : 0 iso 2-OH) and C18 : 1ω7c. Phylogenetic analysis based on 16S rRNA gene sequences showed that strain A2-57T belonged to the family Oxalobacteraceae and formed a distinct branch with Glaciimonas immobilis Cr9-30T. Strain A2-57T shared approximately 97.3 % 16S rRNA sequence similarity with G. immobilis Cr9-30T and also showed high sequence similarity with members of the genera Herbaspirillum (96.3–97.0 %) and Collimonas (96.2–97.0 %). Although phylogenetically closely related to the type strain of G. immobilis , the low level of DNA–DNA hybridization between the two strains (21.6 %) and several physiological and biochemical properties indicated that the novel strain could be clearly distinguished from G. immobilis LMG 25547T. Therefore, it is concluded that strain A2-57T represents a novel species of the genus Glaciimonas , for which the name Glaciimonas singularis sp. nov. is proposed. The type strain is A2-57T ( = CIP 110539T = LMG 27070T).

A Gram-staining-negative, non-flagellated, non-gliding and rod-shaped bacterial strain, designated PDB-16T, was isolated from seawater from a seaweed farm on the South Sea in Korea, and its taxonomic position was investigated using a polyphasic approach. Strain PDB-16T grew optimally at 30 °C, at pH 7.0–7.5 and in the presence of 2 % (w/v) NaCl. A neighbour-joining phylogenetic tree based on 16S rRNA gene sequences revealed that strain PDB-16T formed an independent lineage within the evolutionary radiation encompassed by the family Flavobacteriaceae . Strain PDB-16T contained MK-6 as the predominant menaquinone and iso-C15 : 0, iso-C15 : 1 G and iso-C17 : 0 3-OH as the major fatty acids. The major polar lipids detected in strain PDB-16T were phosphatidylethanolamine and two unidentified lipids. The DNA G+C content of strain PDB-16T was 42.1 mol%. Strain PDB-16T exhibited very low 16S rRNA gene sequence similarities of less than 89.7 % to the type strains of any bacterial species with validly published names and less than 90.1 % to uncultured bacteria clones. The 16S rRNA gene sequence similarity values and the differences in phenotypic properties between strain PDB-16T and some phylogenetically related genera were sufficient to support the proposal that strain PDB-16T should be distinguished from previously known genera of the family Flavobacteriaceae . On the basis of the data presented, strain PDB-16T is considered to represent a new genus and novel species, for which the name Sungkyunkwania multivorans gen. nov., sp. nov. is proposed. The type strain of Sungkyunkwania multivorans is PDB-16T ( = KCTC 32138T = CCUG 62952T).

A non-motile, Gram-stain-negative bacterium, designated R-HLS-17T, was isolated from the meltwater of Hailuogou Glacier located in Sichuan province, south-west China. Phylogenetic analysis based on 16S rRNA gene sequences showed that the isolate belonged to the genus Flavobacterium , with the closest relatives being Flavobacterium antarcticum JCM 12383T (95.5 % 16S rRNA gene sequence similarity), F. omnivorum JCM 11313T (95.0 %) and F. fryxellicola LMG 22022T (95.2 %). Growth occurred at 0–29 °C (optimum, 10–20 °C) and pH 6.0–8.5 (optimum, 7.0–8.0). The DNA G+C content was 46.5 mol%. The major cellular fatty acids were iso-C15 : 0, iso-C15 : 1 G, summed feature 9 (comprising iso-C17 : 1ω9c and/or 10-methyl C16 : 0), iso-C17 : 0 3-OH and iso-C15 : 0 3-OH. The predominant menaquinone was MK-6. Based on the genotypic and phenotypic characteristics, we propose that strain R-HLS-17T represents a novel species of the genus Flavobacterium , Flavobacterium noncentrifugens sp. nov. The type strain is R-HLS-17T ( = CGMCC 1.10076T = NBRC 108844T).

An orange-coloured, rod-shaped, Gram-reaction-negative and aerobic bacterial strain, designated KYW589T, was isolated from seawater collected from Gwangyang Bay, Republic of Korea. The isolate required sea salts for growth. Gliding motility was observed. Flexirubin-type pigments were absent. Major cellular fatty acids (>10 % of the total) were iso-C15 : 0, iso-C17 : 0 3-OH, iso-C15 : 1 G, C16 : 0, iso-C15 : 0 3-OH and C18 : 0. The main polar lipids were phosphatidylethanolamine, two unidentified aminolipids and two unidentified lipids. The predominant isoprenoid quinone was MK-6. The DNA G+C content was 38.6±0.7 mol% (mean±sd of three determinations). Phylogenetic analysis based on 16S rRNA gene sequences indicated that strain KYW589T belongs to the family Flavobacteriaceae , and was related to the genus Algibacter . Based on data from a study using a polyphasic taxonomic approach, it is proposed that strain KYW589T represents a novel species belonging to the genus Algibacter , for which the name Algibacter aquimarinus sp. nov. is proposed. The type strain is KYW589T ( = KCTC 23928T  = JCM 18287T). Reclassification of Pontirhabdus pectinivorans Yi et al. 2011 to the genus Algibacter , as Algibacter pectinivorans comb. nov. (type strain JC2675T  = KACC 14153T  = JCM 17107T), is also proposed.

A Gram-negative, short-rod-shaped, orange-pigmented bacterium, strain LYYY01T, was isolated from a mangrove sediment sample collected from Yunxiao mangrove National Nature Reserve, Fujian Province, China. 16S rRNA gene sequence comparisons showed that strain LYYY01T is a member of the family Flavobacteriaceae , forming a distinct lineage with species of the genera Meridianimaribacter , Sediminibacter , Gelidibacter and Subsaximicrobium . The 16S rRNA gene sequence similarity between strain LYYY01T and the type strains of related species ranged from 93.9 to 90.9 %. Growth was observed at temperatures from 10 to 38 °C, at salinities from 1 to 7 % and at pH from 6 to 10. The DNA G+C content of the strain was 38.6 mol% and the major respiratory quinone was menaquinone-6 (MK-6). The major fatty acids were iso-C15 : 1 (27.6 %), iso-C15 : 0 (24.0 %), iso-C17 : 0 3-OH (12.0 %) and iso-C16 : 0 3-OH (6.2 %). According to its morphology, physiology, fatty acid composition and 16S rRNA gene sequence data, strain LYYY01T is considered to represent a novel species of a new genus in the family Flavobacteriaceae , for which the name Mangrovimonas yunxiaonensis gen. nov., sp. nov. is proposed. The type strain of Mangrovimonas yunxiaonensis is LYYY01T ( = CGMCC 1.12280T = LMG 27142T).

A Gram-staining-negative, catalase- and oxidase-positive, strictly aerobic, rod-shaped bacterial strain isolated from fresh water in Trabzon, Turkey and designated MK3T was characterized by phenotypic and molecular methods in order to determine its phylogenetic position. On the basis of 16S rRNA gene sequence similarity, strain MK3T was shown to belong to the genus Flavobacterium , being most closely related to Flavobacterium ceti CECT 7184T (93.6 %). Sequence similarity with other species of the genus Flavobacterium with validly published names was less than 91.6 %. Phenotypic and chemotaxonomic data supported the affiliation of strain MK3T to the genus Flavobacterium . The only menaquinone was MK-6; the major fatty acids were iso-C15 : 0 (45.2 %), summed feature 9 (C16 : 0 10-methyl and/or iso-C17 : 1ω9c; 20.4 %) and summed feature 3 (C16 : 1ω7c and/or C16 : 1ω6c; 13.3 %) and the major polar lipids were phosphatidylethanolamine, one unidentified aminophospholipid and two unidentified phospholipids. The G+C content of the genomic DNA was 38.6 mol%. The results of physiological and biochemical tests allowed strain MK3T to be distinguished phenotypically from Flavobacterium ceti CECT 7184T. Strain MK3T, therefore, represents a novel species of the genus Flavobacterium , for which the name Flavobacterium anatoliense sp. nov. is proposed. The type strain is MK3T ( = LMG 26441T = NCCB 100384T). An emended description of Flavobacterium ceti is also proposed.

A novel marine, Gram-stain-negative, oxidase- and catalase- positive, rod-shaped bacterium, designated strain AK6T, was isolated from marine aquaculture pond water collected in Andhra Pradesh, India. The fatty acids were dominated by iso-C15 : 0, iso-C17 : 1ω9c, iso-C15 : 1 G, iso-C17 : 0 3-OH and anteiso-C15 : 0. Strain AK6T contained MK-7 as the sole respiratory quinone and phosphatidylethanolamine, one unidentified aminophospholipid, one unidentified phospholipid and seven unidentified lipids as polar lipids. The DNA G+C content of strain AK6T was 45.6 mol%. Phylogenetic analysis showed that strain AK6T formed a distinct branch within the family Cyclobacteriaceae and clustered with Aquiflexum balticum DSM 16537T and other members of the family Cyclobacteriaceae . 16S rRNA gene sequence analysis confirmed that Aquiflexum balticum DSM 16537T was the nearest neighbour, with pairwise sequence similarity of 90.1 %, while sequence similarity with the other members of the family was <88.5 %. Based on differentiating phenotypic characteristics and phylogenetic inference, strain AK6T is proposed as a representative of a new genus and species of the family Cyclobacteriaceae , as Mariniradius saccharolyticus gen. nov., sp. nov. The type strain of Mariniradius saccharolyticus is AK6T ( = MTCC 11279T = JCM 17389T). Emended descriptions of the genus Aquiflexum and Aquiflexum balticum are also proposed.

Two aerobic, Gram-stain-negative, pale-red-pigmented and rod-shaped bacterial strains, designated SAORIC-26 and SAORIC-28T, were isolated from seawater (3000 m depth) from the Pacific Ocean. Phylogenetic analysis based on their 16S rRNA gene sequences revealed that the novel isolates could be affiliated with the family Rhodothermaceae of the class Cytophagia . Strains SAORIC-26 and SAORIC-28T shared 99.7 % pairwise sequence similarity with each other and showed less than 92.6 % similarity with other cultivated members of the class Cytophagia . The strains were found to be non-motile, oxidase-positive, catalase-negative and able to hydrolyse gelatin and aesculin. The DNA G+C contents were determined to be 64.8–65.8 mol% and MK-7 was the predominant menaquinone. Summed feature 9 (iso-C17 : 1ω9c and/or C16 : 0 10-methyl), summed feature 3 (C16 : 1ω6c and/or C16 : 1ω7c) and iso-C15 : 0 were found to be the major cellular fatty acids. On the basis of this taxonomic study using a polyphasic approach, it was concluded that strains SAORIC-26 and SAORIC-28T represent a novel species of a new genus in the family Rhodothermaceae , for which the name Rubrivirga marina gen. nov., sp. nov. is proposed. The type strain of the type species of is SAORIC-28T ( = KCTC 23867T = NBRC 108816T). An additional strain of the species is SAORIC-26.

A bacterial strain, designated CMJ-5T, was isolated from a freshwater shrimp culture pond in Taiwan and characterized using a polyphasic taxonomic approach. Cells of strain CMJ-5T were Gram-stain-negative, strictly aerobic, non-motile, yellow-pigmented rods surrounded by a thick capsule. Growth occurred at 20–35 °C (optimum, 30 °C), at pH 6.5–8.0 (optimum, pH 7.0) and with 0–0.5 % NaCl (optimum, 0 %). Phylogenetic analyses based on 16S rRNA gene sequences showed that strain CMJ-5T belonged to the genus Flavobacterium and was related most closely to Flavobacterium haoranii LQY-7T with sequence similarity of 94.4 %. Strain CMJ-5T contained iso-C15 : 0 (37.5 %), iso-C17 : 0 3-OH (13.4 %), iso-C15 : 0 3-OH (13.1 %) and iso-C15 : 1 G (11.2 %) as the predominant fatty acids. The major isoprenoid quinone was MK-6. The polar lipid profile consisted of phosphatidylethanolamine and several uncharacterized aminophospholipids and phospholipids. The major polyamine was homospermidine. The G+C content of the genomic DNA was 42.4 mol%. On the basis of phylogenetic inference and phenotypic data, strain CMJ-5T should be classified as a representative of a novel species, for which the name Flavobacterium squillarum sp. nov. is proposed. The type strain is CMJ-5T ( = BCRC 80405T = LMG 26890T = KCTC 23915T). Emended descriptions of Flavobacterium haoranii , Flavobacterium cauense , Flavobacterium terrae and Flavobacterium aquatile are also proposed.

The taxonomic status of a bacterium, strain DC-8T, isolated from activated sludge, was determined using a polyphasic taxonomic approach. The cells of strain DC-8T were Gram-negative, non-motile, non-spore-forming and rod-shaped. The isolate grew at temperature range of 10–40 °C (optimum 30–35 °C), pH range of 5.0–10.0 (optimum 6.5–8.0) and NaCl concentrations of 0–5 % (optimum 0–1 %). The predominant menaquinone of strain DC-8T was MK-7 and major fatty acids were summed feature 3 (C16 : 1ω6c and/or C16 : 1ω7c; 39.7 %), iso-C15 : 0 (33.7 %) and C16 : 0 (5.2 %). The DNA G+C content was 39.8 mol%. Phylogenetic analysis based on 16S rRNA gene sequence comparison revealed that strain DC-8T was a member of the genus Sphingobacterium . Strain DC-8T shared the highest similarity with Sphingobacterium siyangense SY1T (98.4 %), Sphingobacterium multivorum IAM 14316T (98.3 %), Sphingobacterium canadense CR11T (98.0 %) and Sphingobacterium detergens 6.2ST (97.9 %) and shared less than 97 % similarity with other members of the genus Sphingobacterium . DNA–DNA hybridization experiments showed that the DNA–DNA relatedness values between strain DC-8T and its closest phylogenetic neighbours were below 70 %. Based on the phylogenetic analysis, DNA–DNA hybridization, whole-cell fatty acid composition as well as biochemical characteristics, strain DC-8T was clearly distinguished from all recognized species of the genus Sphingobacterium and should be classified as a representative of a novel species of the genus Sphingobacterium , for which the name Sphingobacterium caeni sp. nov. is proposed. The type strain is DC-8T ( = CCTCC AB 2012020T = KACC 16850T).